Prince Harry seen riding horse with bloody wound, angers animal rights groups, report says

09/03/2010 by Corinne Heller

Prince Harry has reportedly come under fire from animal rights groups due to the recent posting of photographs of him riding an injured horse in a polo match, which show the animal with a bloody gash on its side.

He has not commented on the reports. The UK Newspaper The Daily Mail said the incident occurred in July. It quoted an unnamed witness as saying the 25-year-old prince continued to ride the injured animal but said St. James Palace maintains Prince Harry stopped playing the moment he spotted the wound and that the horse was treated for a minor injury and returned to the game.

Harry is seen wearing spurs in the photographs. Polo rules in the United Kingdom say riders who use them excessively could be given a fine of up to $77,000.

The Daily Mail quoted Andrew Tyler, director of animal welfare charity Animal Aid, as saying the incident was "heartless and utterly selfish" and said Tony Moore, chairman of the Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe called Prince Harry "cruel".

The Hurlingham Polo Association in the United Kingdom has launched an investigation, the newspaper added.

Prince Harry is the younger son of the late Princess Diana, brother of Prince William, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and third in line to the British throne. The prince, who served in the British military in Afghanistan, flew to New York in June to visit U.S. cadets. He also threw out a first pitch at a Mets baseball game and took part in a UNICEF event.